Sheng Sheng automatically filtered out the copycat hecklers, patted Ling Yu on the shoulder, and said, "Didn't expect you to trust me this much. Truly worthy of being my best friend!"
Ling Yu: "..."
He lowered his gaze to the hand on his shoulder, fell silent for a long moment, and in the end still said nothing.
Meanwhile, Sheng Sheng had already gone to examine the giant door inside the cave.
—Although the forum's strategy video didn't clear the dungeon, it recorded the internal details very clearly.
This cave was one of the mandatory checkpoints.
The cave was narrow, surrounded on three sides by thick rock walls. The remaining side was occupied by a massive metal gate over three meters tall. No one knew what metal it was made of, but it looked extremely heavy. Intricate carvings covered its surface—upon closer inspection, they depicted dragons, elves, and beastmen.
Unfortunately, players storming dungeons with nothing but EXP and loot on their minds had no time to appreciate art.
Sheng Sheng said, "You answer questions here. Get them right, and we move on."
One step in front of the gate was a conspicuous red line. As long as anyone crossed it, the system would trigger.
Recalling how the first wave of players had been tormented by the quiz, Sheng Sheng—self-aware academic deadweight—wisely abdicated her position.
"Whoever's smart answers!"
Ling Xingxing, Ling Yu, and Qi Chuzhou all took a step forward.
Sheng Sheng: "..."
Ling Yu and Qi Chuzhou made sense, but Ling Xingxing? You clearly don't look very bright!
Sheng Qing leaned over and whispered, "Probably lacks self-awareness."
Lacking self-awareness, Ling Xingxing was promptly punched by his uncle and slunk into a corner.
As for answering questions…
Ling Yu said, "Let's see who's faster."
Qi Chuzhou readily agreed.
Looking at their proud backs, Sheng Sheng clearly felt the aura of true elites.
Sheng Sheng: So this is the aura of academic gods?
----------------------
[System]: Quiz about to begin. Please prepare. Countdown: 5, 4, 3…
Considering the average intelligence of players, the questions weren't complicated—though anyone with an education level stuck at prenatal lessons might struggle.
A screen appeared before the carved gate, displaying a system of quadratic equations.
Sheng Sheng glanced at it and confirmed that, without a time limit, she could solve it.
But comparison breeds fear.
She could solve it. Ling Yu and Qi Chuzhou were racing.
Five seconds after the question appeared—
"42, 82."
"Answer is 42, 82."
They spoke almost simultaneously.
[System]: Correct.
The metal gate rumbled open.
Sheng Sheng: "..."
Yet the two geniuses didn't hurry inside.
"You were faster than me," Ling Yu said.
"I've just been doing similar problems recently," Qi Chuzhou replied modestly. "Familiarity helped."
They stood there trading compliments.
Ling Yu: You're better.
Qi Chuzhou: No, you're better.
Sheng Sheng couldn't take it anymore. "Please take this battle of humility outside. Leave some peace for us mortals."
She dragged them inside.
----------------------
Beyond the gate, the lighting was just as dim.
Ahead stretched a long corridor. Broken bookshelves and tables lined the sides, buried under thick dust and spiderwebs.
"These webs are huge," Sheng Qing said.
"They're from dungeon mobs," Sheng Sheng warned. "Don't touch them—they slow movement."
She explained the mechanics before the fight.
The mobs were giant spiders.
Half-human-height, mottled white spiders lurking behind webs. Ugly, but dangerous—powerful jumps and high attack. In the video, a fully armored warrior lost a third of his HP in one bite.
Normally, you'd lure them out one by one.
But Sheng Sheng's team was unconventional.
The others stayed at the entrance. Sheng Qing alone advanced, greatsword in hand.
Her first steps triggered a spider to leap from the shadows.
If hit, she'd be left with a sliver of HP.
Sheng Sheng worried, but Qi Chuzhou calmly said, "She'll be fine."
He was right.
At the last moment, Sheng Qing rolled aside, stabbed backward mid-roll, and hit cleanly.
Aggro secured.
Instead of pulling it back, she charged forward and used [Taunt].
Fifteen spiders burst from hiding, chasing her like wild dogs after bones.
She kited them effortlessly, dodging, blocking, purely on combat skill.
Sheng Sheng watched in awe.
After aggro stabilized, the team went to work.
Even Ling Xingxing impressed—great positioning, coordination, perfect execution.
Sheng Sheng: Did I really luck into three god-tier teammates?
----------------------
It took fifteen minutes to clear the spiders.
Drops were generous—six white-grade items.
"Let warriors equip what they can," Sheng Sheng decided.
Everyone agreed.
"Next is the BOSS. Watch aggro and dodges."
No deaths. One death meant losing a third of a level.
----------------------
The corridor ended in an open door leading to a massive library.
At the center lay the first BOSS:
[Pixie — Charista].
A massive mutated werewolf wielding a giant mace.
Sheng Sheng explained the phases.
"Half HP triggers two AoE bursts. Hard to dodge."
"So what's the plan?" Sheng Qing asked.
"Fight first. Listen to commands."
The fight began.
At half HP, Sheng Sheng called the stop, baited the AoE, immobilized the BOSS, and kited it out.
The second AoE was interrupted by Ling Xingxing's [Knockback Arrow].
Perfect execution.
The BOSS fell.
A golden chest remained.
No one moved.
"You open it," Sheng Qing said.
"No, no," Sheng Sheng waved. "We need a lucky hand."
She rejected everyone until Ling Xingxing.
"Green weapon from trash mobs," he argued.
"Chosen!"
He opened the chest.
Golden light exploded.
[Traveler's Dagger] (Purple)
Requirement: Level 15
Class: Assassin
STR +27, AGI +20
Effect: Chance to Blind on Critical Hit
Sheng Sheng gasped. "A golden legend!"
Only Ling Yu could use it.
"Ling Yu pays, we split," Sheng Sheng said.
They agreed to record value later.
Ling Yu picked it up.
[System]: Player [Yu Ling] has obtained [Traveler's Dagger].
Sheng Sheng stared. "This even triggers a world announcement?!"
TL: If you want to read ahead by at least ten chapters, patreon.com/EdibleMapleSyrup